Glades County

Population 13,270 (2025) 807 sq mi

67 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Glades County since 1851, 32 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1935 (Category 4).

Hazard fingerprint for Glades County Tornado: 42th percentile. Tropical: 98th percentile. Wildfire: 96th percentile. Flood: 17th percentile. Hail & wind: 9th percentile. Heat: 4th percentile. Cold: 82th percentile. Winter: 0th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths since 195026
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger114
  • Wildfire burn scars since 198493

At a glance

The record for Glades County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

67

34th of 67 in Florida

32 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Acres burned since 1984

245,201

12th of 67 in Florida

93 large fires; the largest was Moonshine Bay, 2007

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

26

49th of 67 in Florida

Fewer than the typical Florida county, which has had 44

Details

Flood insurance claims

56

63rd of 67 in Florida

$394,000 paid since 1985

Details

Strongest tornado

EF3

October 9, 2024, 15.5 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 4

Hurricane (unnamed), 1935, 46.8 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

37

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

103°F

July 8, 1932

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 2.9 years since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

October 9, 2024

EF3, 15.5 mile path

250 yards wide.

Deadliest

June 17, 1982

1 killed, F2

4 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

EF3, 15.5 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 0 1960s: 0 1970s: 3 3 1980s: 3 3 1990s: 6 6 2000s: 3 3 2010s: 6 6 2020s: 5 5 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 0 F: 2 M: 1 A: 0 M: 2 J: 8 8 J: 4 A: 1 S: 2 O: 6 N: 0 D: 0 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Glades County since 1950
Oct 9, 2024EF315.525030
Oct 9, 2024EF16.312000
Oct 9, 2024EF129.95000
Oct 9, 2024EF117.015000
Sep 28, 2022EF01.17500
Feb 16, 2016EF11.87500
Jul 12, 2012EF00.11000
Jun 24, 2012EF00.02000
Jun 24, 2012EF00.01000
Oct 18, 2011EF01.95000
Oct 18, 2011EF01.05000
Jun 10, 2009EF00.51000
Jul 29, 2002F11.02000
May 31, 2002F00.51500
Jun 21, 1998F00.23000
Jun 17, 1998F00.13000
Feb 2, 1998F10.23000
Jun 20, 1997F00.22300
May 3, 1997F01.55020
Sep 19, 1994F00.11000
Jun 9, 1989F00.21000
Aug 31, 1985F00.51000
Jun 17, 1982F28.01741
Mar 19, 1975F10.21000
Jul 11, 1970F10.11000
Jul 11, 1970F10.11000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Glades County: 0.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

67 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 32 at hurricane strength, 5 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 3, 1935

Unnamed storm, Category 4

46.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 150 mph.

Most recent

October 10, 2024

Milton, Category 2

54.7 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 1 60s: 2 70s: 6 6 80s: 3 90s: 4 00s: 4 10s: 2 20s: 4 30s: 4 40s: 6 50s: 6 60s: 4 70s: 2 80s: 4 90s: 6 00s: 6 10s: 1 20s: 2 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Milton202454.7Category 299Category 5
Nicole202239.0Tropical storm71Category 1
Ian202214.3Category 3115Category 5
Alex20220.0Disturbance44Tropical storm
Sally202073.4Tropical storm40Category 2
Isaias202079.5Tropical storm68Category 1
Gordon201867.6Tropical storm59Tropical storm
Irma20178.5Category 192Category 5
Matthew201681.1Category 3127Category 5
Fay20080.0Tropical storm67Tropical storm
Ernesto20060.0Tropical storm40Category 1
Wilma200526.8Category 3112Category 5
Tammy200569.9Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Katrina200572.1Category 181Category 5
Jeanne200415.0Category 2106Category 3
Frances200418.6Category 189Category 4
Charley200430.8Category 4139Category 4
Gabrielle200153.0Tropical storm60Category 1
Irene199936.9Category 175Category 2
Harvey199944.9Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Mitch19989.1Tropical storm62Category 5
Jerry199521.1Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Erin199545.6Category 177Category 2
Gordon19940.0Tropical storm52Category 1
Andrew199278.0Category 4132Category 5
Marco199064.0Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Keith198846.1Tropical storm49Category 1
Bob19859.9Tropical storm46Category 1
Isidore198419.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Dennis19810.0Tropical storm40Category 1
David197940.1Category 298Category 5
Dottie197646.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed197462.0Subtropical storm58Tropical storm
Abby196826.2Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed196674.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Alma196690.0Category 2104Category 3
Isbell196433.3Category 192Category 3
Cleo196423.0Tropical storm63Category 4
Florence196025.5Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Donna196017.7Category 2109Category 4
Judith19590.0Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed195993.3Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed195610.9Tropical storm62Tropical storm
Hazel19538.3Category 175Category 1
Unnamed195242.7Tropical storm63Tropical storm
How19510.0Tropical storm53Category 2
King19500.0Category 192Category 4
Easy195085.9Category 192Category 3
Unnamed19490.0Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed194879.1Category 193Category 3
Unnamed194818.7Category 297Category 4
Unnamed194768.4Category 181Category 2
Unnamed194732.4Category 2101Category 4
Unnamed194671.4Category 186Category 2
Unnamed19451.7Category 296Category 4
Unnamed194537.9Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed194458.8Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed194133.5Category 175Category 3
Unnamed193920.3Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed193657.1Tropical storm63Category 2
Unnamed193660.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed193568.7Category 190Category 2
Unnamed193546.8Category 4150Category 5
Unnamed19339.6Category 2101Category 4
Unnamed19330.0Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed193255.1Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed193073.7Tropical storm43Category 4
Unnamed192982.4Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed19280.0Category 3120Category 5
Unnamed192860.9Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed192837.5Category 184Category 2
Unnamed192632.8Category 2107Category 4
Unnamed192665.1Category 2105Category 4
Unnamed19250.0Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed192459.2Category 178Category 5
Unnamed191699.1Post-tropical58Tropical storm
Unnamed19160.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed191590.1Tropical storm71Category 1
Unnamed191024.0Category 194Category 4
Unnamed19090.0Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed190682.1Category 186Category 2
Unnamed19048.8Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed19030.0Tropical storm68Category 1
Unnamed19010.2Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed189988.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189954.8Tropical storm49Category 2
Unnamed189727.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed18960.0Tropical storm48Category 2
Unnamed189418.1Category 193Category 3
Unnamed189387.8Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189250.5Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed189255.5Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189123.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189165.1Tropical storm56Category 3
Unnamed188937.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188875.8Tropical storm45Category 1
Unnamed18880.0Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed188821.3Category 186Category 3
Unnamed188554.9Category 184Category 2
Unnamed188071.6Category 2100Category 2
Unnamed187885.7Category 181Category 2
Unnamed18789.6Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed18763.1Category 298Category 3
Unnamed187694.9Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed187310.5Category 2106Category 3
Unnamed187392.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed187287.9Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed187135.3Category 2104Category 3
Unnamed187116.0Category 298Category 3
Unnamed18704.2Category 178Category 2
Unnamed186549.5Category 194Category 2
Unnamed186388.1Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed18610.0Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed185973.3Category 189Category 1
Unnamed18590.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed185865.6Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed185271.4Tropical storm58Category 1
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

245,201 acres burned in 93 large fires since 1984, equal to 47% of the land.

Largest

February 24, 2007

Moonshine Bay Fire, 38,633 acres

38,664 acres inside Glades County.

Most recent

July 14, 2024

Roberson Dr (22) Fire

2,392 acres in total.

Acres burned since 1984, cumulative 1984: 1151986: 2,5671989: 1,1531990: 29,4101991: 5,3281992: 27,0081993: 1,6971994: 2,6241996: 1,7851997: 6,0731998: 6951999: 1,3102004: 19,2562006: 9,4272007: 69,8992008: 41,7302009: 52011: 9,0012012: 8662014: 5,4262015: 7902017: 6,5422024: 2,492 245,201 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned inside the county (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Roberson Dr (22)20242,4912,392
Crane Island20174,8865,100
Curry 1120171,6551,653
Boars Hammock2015790789
Squirrel Island2014528527
Indian Prairie Marsh20144,8964,894
Monkey Box2012865866
Indian Prairie20111,9541,953
Saturday2011451688
Persimmons20111,0471,234
Lightning Strike2011445523
Hutto Fire20111,5851,693
9 Mile2011593598
Unnamed20112,3492,346
Unnamed2011573573
Unnamed200952,193
Unnamed200841,452
East Tucker2008845844
Myakka Cut200836,87736,847
Grassy Island20081,7191,961
Unnamed2008809808
Unnamed20081761,994
Unnamed20081,2971,775
Unnamed2007717715
Unnamed20071,4591,457
Frog Light200719,76820,167
Unnamed20071,3461,342
Longleaf 5272007146638
Fbi 2 Fire2007759763
Moonshine Bay200738,66438,633
Unnamed20072,0632,065
Sour Orange20072,4852,482
Unnamed20071,0891,092
Unnamed20071,3971,395
Unnamed20061,4181,418
Unnamed20061,6541,654
Unnamed2006547547
Unnamed20061,1001,100
Unnamed2006793796
Unnamed20061,4411,441
Unnamed20061,0721,075
Unnamed20061,3631,366
Unnamed2006344,586
Unnamed2004781781
Unnamed2004534534
Unnamed2004714713
Babcock20042241,899
Unnamed20042,2732,273
Unnamed20041,1071,103
Unnamed20041,7571,760
Unnamed20042,4812,480
Unnamed20041,0531,054
Unnamed20042,1152,112
Unnamed20041,2601,255
Unnamed20041,1781,177
Unnamed2004680679
Unnamed20041,9323,026
Unnamed2004894904
Unnamed20042671,191
Unnamed19991,3101,305
Unnamed1998695693
Unnamed19976,0736,063
Unnamed1996796797
Unnamed19969882,710
Unnamed19942,6242,629
Unnamed19931,6961,694
Unnamed19921,1171,113
Unnamed1992361,176
Unnamed1992524525
Unnamed19921,4361,433
Unnamed19923,9453,942
Unnamed1992909908
Unnamed19923,8643,863
Unnamed19925,9455,934
Unnamed19922,0692,066
Unnamed1992805805
Unnamed19924,5164,518
Unnamed19921,8371,836
Unnamed19919821,946
Unnamed1991201,293
Unnamed19911,0231,025
Unnamed1991746744
Unnamed19911,3141,313
Unnamed19911,2421,242
Unnamed19904,7524,746
Unnamed19902,7052,704
Unnamed199016,25216,238
Unnamed1990778779
Unnamed19903,5123,509
Unnamed19901,4081,405
Unnamed19891,1531,678
Unnamed19862,5662,564
Unnamed19841141,170
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 9 days

Heavy smoke on 1 day in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

2.5 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

1 day

Medium or heavy smoke. 4 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 5 2012: 0 2013: 2 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 1 2021: 2 2022: 6 2023: 9 9 2024: 5 2025: 1 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the county’s population centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

56 federal flood insurance claims since 1985, with $394,000 paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 2004: 8 2005: 10 2008: 15 15 2017: 5 2004
Claims per year since 1985. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2008: 15 claims

$75,000 paid.

2nd most

2005: 10 claims

$31,000 paid.

3rd most

2004: 8 claims

$136,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
3497426$186,000
3347121$76,000
339358$122,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flood11
  • Flash Flood4

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

Most severe crest

September 13, 2017

Fisheating Creek at Palmdale, 10.35 ft

3.35 feet above the 7.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

September 13, 2017

Fisheating Creek at Palmdale, 10.35 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 13, 2017Fisheating Creek at Palmdale10.35+3.35Major
Sep 17, 1945Fisheating Creek at Palmdale9.18+2.18Major
Sep 6, 1933Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.60+1.60Moderate
Oct 10, 1953Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.53+1.53Moderate
Sep 2, 2006Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.46+1.46Moderate
Sep 29, 2004Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.31+1.31Moderate
Sep 13, 1932Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.26+1.26Moderate
Sep 13, 1960Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.19+1.19Moderate
Jun 16, 1936Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.10+1.10Moderate
Jul 3, 1974Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.02+1.02Moderate
Sep 16, 2001Fisheating Creek at Palmdale8.00+1.00Moderate
Mar 22, 1998Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.99+0.99Minor
Aug 29, 1949Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.86+0.86Minor
Jun 26, 1982Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.83+0.83Minor
Jun 29, 1992Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.82+0.82Minor
Mar 27, 1970Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.79+0.79Minor
Mar 15, 1984Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.78+0.78Minor
Jan 31, 2016Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.69+0.69Minor
Sep 9, 2004Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.60+0.60Minor
Oct 1, 1949Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.60+0.60Minor
Oct 20, 1995Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.51+0.51Minor
Sep 17, 1979Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.49+0.49Minor
Sep 30, 1997Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.49+0.49Minor
Sep 23, 1962Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.39+0.39Minor
Aug 28, 1995Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.34+0.34Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Fisheating Creek at Palmdale7.010.35 ftSep 13, 20172
Fisheating Creek near Lakeport at Highway 7817.0——0
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 94 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 13 months.

94

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

19

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

56

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

February 2001

−4.59, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

13 months

March 2007 to March 2008.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.41, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 1 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 2 1908: 4 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 2 1932: 5 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 1 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 3 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 1 1950: 5 1951: 1 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 3 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 2 1962: 5 1963: 1 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 2 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 1 1975: 0 1976: 5 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 6 1982: 2 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 4 1990: 4 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 6 2001: 4 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 10 10 2008: 4 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 2 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 2 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes

No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the county in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.

Severe weather and other events

241 events in the National Weather Service record, 227 of them since 1996.

15

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

0

Hail, 2 inches or larger

32

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

0

Winter weather events since 1996

1

Heat events since 1996

32

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

February 13, 1995

1.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

May 31, 2002

81 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning211Jun 8, 2012

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Oct 9, 2024Tornado$20.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A severe tornado was initially observed in images captured over the western Lake|Okeechobee littoral shelf from the Harney Pond WeatherSTEM camera around 1:30 PM|EST in Glades County. The debris from the littoral shelf and associated vegetation was lofted in the air producing a tornadic debris signature detectable by the distant Miami|radar by 1:35 PM EST. The first observed property damage attributable to this tornado was in the Sarasota Colony neighborhood of Lakeport where the tornado demolished the second story dwellings of three well-built homes and then proceeded to cross Florida State Road 78 into the Fishermans Lane neighborhood where it destroyed the roofs and broke…

  2. Sep 4, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Glades$5.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Frances formed from a tropical depression in the deep tropical Atlantic on August 25 about 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and reached hurricane strength on August 26. Frances became a Category 4 Hurricane on August 28 while about 700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Frances then moved generally west northwest and weakened to a Category 2 hurricane while crossing the northwest Bahamas. After stalling for about 12 hours on September 4 in the Florida Straits between Grand Bahama Island and the southeast Florida coast, the center of the nearly 70-mile diameter eye crossed the Florida coast near Sewalls Point, at 1 A.M. EDT, September 5, 2004 with the southern…

  3. Sep 25, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Glades$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Jeanne formed from a tropical depression just east of the Leeward Islands on September 13. She moved across Puerto Rico and Hispaniola then turned north into the Atlantic and became a hurricane on September 20. Jeanne made a clockwise loop for three days in the Atlantic north of Hispaniola before moving west northwest. It strengthened to a Category 3 Hurricane while over the northwest Bahamas and then make landfall around 11 P.M., September 25 near the south end of Hutchinson Island, nearly coincident with the landfall point of Hurricane Frances nearly three week before. The 40-mile diameter eye was not quite as large as Frances, but the southern eyewall again affected…

  4. Aug 18, 2008Tropical Storm, Glades$120,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The center of Tropical Storm Fay moved across Key West early in the evening of the 18th and into the mainland of South Florida at Cape Romano shortly before 5 AM on the 19th. Minimum central pressure was 989 MB at landfall, but continued to decrease after landfall to 986 MB at Moore Haven on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be around 52 knots (60 MPH) at landfall, however as the storm tracked across the western Everglades and Southwest Florida the radar presentation continued to organize and winds increased to around 56 knots (65 MPH) around Moore Haven. A maximum wind gust of 69 knots (79 MPH) was recorded on a South Florida Water…

  5. Feb 2, 1998Tornado$100,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tornado touched down in Buckhead Ridge. Two homes had their roofs torn off. Ten homes had roof damage. Numerous trees and powerlines down.

  6. Aug 19, 2008Flood$80,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Rainfall amounts ranged 7 to 10 inches over northern Collier, Hendry and Glades counties near the path of the center of Fay. Isolated areas in northeastern Hendry and southeastern Glades counties received well in excess of 10 inches, with Moore Haven recorded the highest storm total rainfall of 16.17 inches recorded in the 48-hour period ending at 8 AM on Wednesday, August 20th. Extensive flooding was observed over the areas with the highest totals, especially over Hendry and Glades counties. Hardest hit areas were the Felda and Montura areas in Hendry County, and the Muse and Moore Haven areas in Glades counties. Dozens of homes sustained damage from water intrusion, primarily in…

  7. Jun 2, 2008Thunderstorm Wind$75,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Strong Thunderstorms moved inland from Lake Okeechobee and into Buckhead Ridge producing damage to two homes, with one becoming uninhabitable. The resident of the mobile home was watching television and heard the wind pick up and noticed water coming through the ceiling and around the ceiling fan. She then ran for cover while the roof lifted off. Destruction to the mobile home was 80% with 100% destruction occurring to an addition. Amount of damage to second home was unknown.

  8. Sep 10, 2017Flood$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Glades County Emergency Management reported the closure of State Road 29 due to flooding from State Road 78 halfway up to Palmdale, as well as State Road 78 east from State Road 29 to U.S. 27. Extensive sheet flow flooding affected western and southern Glades County to Muse and the Hendry County line. Also, flooding from Fisheating Creek affected the campground adjacent to U.S. 27 in Palmdale.||Rainfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches were widespread across the area, with estimates of 16 to 20 inches over parts of western Glades County.

  9. Aug 5, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Barn was destroyed. power lines were downed and trees uprooted.

  10. Oct 18, 2011Tornado$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A tornado rated at EF-0 moved across Lakeport in Glades County. The tornado damaged approximately 30 manufactured homes. Damage was mostly minor with siding peeled off and some roof and tree damage. Maximum winds were estimated at 85 mph.

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Moore Haven Lock 1, 7.4 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1918.

All-time high
103°FJul 8, 1932
All-time low
23°F4 times, most recently Dec 25, 1989
Warmest night
86°FAug 30, 1952
Coldest day
41°FDec 25, 1989
Wettest day
11.67 inAug 20, 2008
Hottest year
2015mean 77.9°F
Coldest year
2010mean 71.3°F
Wettest year
200866.15 in
Driest year
198129.63 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Moore Haven Lock 1 74° 52° 1.7 Jan 77° 55° 1.8 Feb 80° 58° 2.0 Mar 85° 62° 2.3 Apr 89° 68° 3.7 May 90° 72° 7.6 Jun 91° 74° 7.3 Jul 92° 74° 7.7 Aug 90° 74° 6.0 Sep 86° 69° 2.5 Oct 80° 61° 1.5 Nov 76° 56° 1.6 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 2 1977: 19 1978: 6 1979: 23 1980: 31 1981: 45 1983: 13 1984: 1 1985: 31 1986: 8 1987: 46 46 1988: 10 1989: 33 1990: 21 1991: 15 1992: 6 1993: 11 1994: 2 1996: 10 1997: 21 1998: 39 1999: 15 2000: 15 2002: 3 2003: 0 2004: 3 2005: 6 2006: 7 2007: 18 2008: 3 2009: 14 2010: 10 2011: 29 2012: 16 2013: 8 2014: 32 2015: 45 2016: 25 2017: 20 2018: 9 2019: 6 2020: 2 2024: 21 2025: 5 19761987199820092019
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 14.7.

Station Moore Haven Lock 1 (USC00085895), 35 ft elevation, 7.4 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1918 to October 27, 2026; 95.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

37 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Milton, October 11, 2024.

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 11, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonMajor disasterDR-4834-FL
Oct 7, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonEmergencyEM-3622-FL
Aug 10, 2024Tropical StormHurricane DebbyMajor disasterDR-4806-FL
Aug 3, 2024Tropical StormTropical Storm DebbyEmergencyEM-3605-FL
Dec 13, 2022HurricaneHurricane NicoleMajor disasterDR-4680-FL
Nov 8, 2022Tropical StormTropical Storm NicoleEmergencyEM-3587-FL
Sep 29, 2022HurricaneHurricane IanMajor disasterDR-4673-FL
Sep 24, 2022HurricaneTropical Storm IanEmergencyEM-3584-FL
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4486-FL
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3432-FL
Aug 30, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3419-FL
Sep 10, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4337-FL
Sep 5, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3385-FL
Oct 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3377-FL
Oct 18, 2012HurricaneHurricane IsaacMajor disasterDR-4084-FL
Aug 24, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayMajor disasterDR-1785-FL
Aug 21, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayEmergencyEM-3288-FL
Jun 27, 2007FireOkeechobee Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2696-FL
Oct 24, 2005HurricaneHurricane WilmaMajor disasterDR-1609-FL
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3220-FL
Sep 26, 2004HurricaneHurricane JeanneMajor disasterDR-1561-FL
Sep 4, 2004HurricaneHurricane FrancesMajor disasterDR-1545-FL
Aug 13, 2004HurricaneTropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane CharleyMajor disasterDR-1539-FL
Feb 19, 2001FireFl - Okeechobee Complex FireFire managementFM-2354-FL
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
Oct 20, 1999HurricaneFl-Hurricane Irene-Dr-ReqMajor disasterDR-1306-FL
Oct 15, 1999HurricaneTropical Storm Irene - FloridaEmergencyEM-3150-FL
Sep 22, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disasterDR-1300-FL
Apr 27, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/15/99EmergencyEM-3139-FL
Apr 15, 1999FireOkeechobee Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2251-FL
Sep 25, 1998HurricaneHurricane GrorgesEmergencyEM-3131-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Jan 6, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1195-FL
Mar 13, 1993TornadoTornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor disasterDR-982-FL
Jan 15, 1990FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-851-FL
Jan 31, 1977FreezingSevere Winter WeatherMajor disasterDR-526-FL
Sep 14, 1965HurricaneHurricane BetsyMajor disasterDR-209-FL

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

How this compares

Where Glades County stands among 67 counties in Florida and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19502649 / 671,204 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger116 / 671,281 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi6734 / 6777 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi327 / 6714 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 1984245,20112 / 67186 / 3,143
Flood insurance claims5663 / 671,592 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$394,00064 / 671,871 / 3,143
Disaster declarations3752 / 67159 / 3,143
Flood events since 19961563 / 672,715 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 19966465 / 672,953 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 19960——
Reported damage since 1996$28.0 million52 / 671,210 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage244 / 671,260 / 3,143
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 18959464 / 672,532 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years2.552 / 673,119 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Charlotte County6669339,74811,697
Hendry County348071,816132
Highlands County4968206,085202
Lee County1327415,16948,496
Martin County43698,4922,631
Okeechobee County2772107,653295
Palm Beach County19982380,94010,758

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00085895.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.